"Fahrenheit 451" Tech (**SPOILERS ALLOWED**)

[stormhawk]

There are a couple of bits of cool technology in Fahrenheit 451, bits that seem to be the next generation of something we already have ... The Wallscreens, for example, remind me of the current trend in huge, wall-mountable flat-screen televisions. How long before, like Mildred, are we going to be clamoring for a 360-degree, full-immersion experience?

Do the seashell ear thimbles remind you of anything? It doesn't seem that much of a stretch from the Walkman and the iPod, does it? Moving the experience of music from a shared experience to a very personal and isolating one. I can easily envision the next generation of music device being just the set of earbuds with a wireless connection to a subscription service, like Rhapsody or Pandora, can't you?

Both the ear thimbles and the wallscreens are devices that increase the isolation of individuals, move the focus away from your neighbors and what they are doing, to the actions of The Relatives ... their "lives," interests, concerns, fights, become your focus and what your own life is measured against.

I'm just glad we haven't got The Hound, yet.

[Sue]

Look at the copyright date. They were definitely in the future when written. (I think I read this and lots of other Bradbury a loooooong time ago. Like if I still have copies in storage they're likely 50 cent pbs and falling apart.)

[Lara Amber]

Speaking of tech, the title is not available for the Kindle, which strikes me as oddly funny.